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What is ESTA?

If you travel to the United States and you are a citizen of a country under the Visa Waiver Programme, you will have to apply for ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) travel authorisation.

After you applied

Receiving confirmation of your ESTA travel authorization may take up to 72 hours. After approval, you will receive a reference number. Be sure to print the ESTA application response: you will need the application number to change your ESTA information when your passport expires.

ESTA authorisation remains valid for 2 years. During these 2 years, you may travel to the United States as often as you like, until any answers to the YES/NO questions in your ESTA application change, or until your passport expires.

If you do not receive ESTA authorisation immediately, please use your ESTA application number to check whether permission for departure will still be issued. You should make sure to do this well in advance because you may need to apply for a visa at the United States Embassy or Consulate.

We recommend you bring a print-out of the ESTA application response to the departure airport.